Pizzeria Bel-Sit, Woodford Green

This very nearly didn’t make it in to the blog. Not because it’s not an excellent restaurant, which it most definitely is, but because we love it so much we were very tempted to keep this local treasure to ourselves. But we’re nothing if not selfless at Second Bites (see all that eating we do just to be helpful) so in it goes.

The Bel-Sit is a Woodford Green institution. It’s right on the edge of London, sitting just on the Essex border, but if you’re lucky enough to live on the east side of London, then you have to try this out. If you live elsewhere, make a special trip! There are no reservations, so it doesn’t matter who you are you have to queue up with the rest of us. That’s half the fun of going though and although it looks tiny from the outside, there’s actually plenty of seating inside so it shouldn’t be too long a wait. If you lose patience there are several restaurants very nearby as back up but trust me, it’s worth sticking it out.

This is an independent, family run business that brings a bit of traditional Italian home cooking right to Woodford Green and has been for over 30 years. We had the calzone (spectacularly puffed up with steam for a dramatic presentation) and the spaghetti and meatballs, but we’re planning to work our way through the rest of the menu too.